The handbook to know about measles

Children 9 months and older need measles vaccination. Breastfeeding women should be vaccinated to avoid having measles. Adults can also get measles.

1. To what extent is measles transmitted?

Measles caused by measles virus. Inhalation is caused by coughing, sneezing, close contact with infected people or nasopharyngeal secretions. The infection period occurs 4 days before to 4 days after the rash. Measles virus spreads widely on a large scale so it can cause large outbreaks. A person can infect about 20 others.

2. Who is at risk for measles?

All people who are not immune to measles are at risk. In Vietnam, the group at risk of measles is a young child who has no immunity from mother-to-child transmission, who has been vaccinated but has not had an immune response, young people who have never had measles or have been vaccinated before.

3. Expression of measles?

Within 7-21 days after exposure, the patient has symptoms of high fever, coughing, and sneezing. The global stage, rash, smooth, velvet-like, without water. The board grows in order from the head, neck, body to hand and foot.

4. How to detect measles early?

Regardless of who has never been vaccinated against measles or has ever had contact with people who have measles, they have a fever of 39-40 degrees, red eyes, dry cough, runny nose, and need to see a doctor right away.

Northern hospitals overloaded measles patients.(Photo: Hoang Phuong)

5. What is the best way to prevent measles today?

- Regularly hear the announcement of the health sector about epidemics.

- It is necessary to fully apply the recommendations of the health sector as well as the grassroots health service when outbreaks occur.

- The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract, so avoid crowded places. Adults come home to clean their bodies and teeth before taking care of children.

- Regularly monitor the health status of children to promptly detect disease manifestations, take them to the doctor.

- It is necessary to carry out a full two shots as recommended by the health sector.

6. How to distinguish fever from measles with viral fever, dengue fever, tonsillitis, fever caused by foot and mouth?

- Measles fever often occurs in children who have not been vaccinated against measles.

- Children with high fever, 39-40 degrees, accompanied with eyes, coughing, dry cough, runny nose, even loose diarrhea 1-2 times a day.

- By the third day of the fever, the measles rash will appear, usually beginning in the area behind the ears, forehead, face, spreading down to the neck, torso and limbs.

These are the main signs. However, the best way for children to show symptoms such as fever, cough or other abnormal signs, should take them to the nearest medical facility for a full examination and consultation.

7. Should I smell the seeds when I have measles?

There is currently no scientific evidence of smelling seeds or plants to prevent measles. Therefore, parents need to be careful when using these methods.

8. Should measles be treated at home?

Initially, children should be taken to the nearest medical facility, do not get too crowded patients to avoid spreading the disease. Need a full opinion on how to take care of your child at home, then can take care of your child at home according to the instructions of the doctors.

Note the following points:

- When fever children need to use antipyretic drugs, it is recommended to use anal medicine because this drug dissolves in 6 hours to maintain the temperature always below 38.5 degrees, preventing the risk of seizures for children.

- Attention to hygiene: Including oral hygiene, eye and nose hygiene, skin hygiene. You can bathe your child with warm water and soap, but take a quick bath in a sheltered place.

- Pay attention to ensure adequate diet.

When the child has abnormal signs, for example, if the fever has gone away, a fever may appear, coughing more and having phlegm, children have dazzling or go out or have other abnormal signs . they need Seek immediate re-examination, let the doctor review and decide whether the child needs hospitalization.

9. Is the child out of fever?

Many children with measles now have fever but still have complications. Therefore continue to monitor the health of children after fever relief to quickly detect abnormalities and timely processing.

10. How to diagnose measles?

Diagnosis based on serum testing is the most accurate method. It takes 3ml of patient's blood for about 28 days from the rash to find IgM antibodies. If a positive result indicates that the patient has measles. Besides, can diagnose based on clinical symptoms and information exposed to the source.

11. Will measles vaccination stop getting measles?

When vaccinated against measles, the immune response depends on the age of vaccination, the type of vaccine and the immunological characteristics, the health status of each person, the quality of the vaccine and the practice of vaccination. Like other vaccines, 1-shot of measles vaccine has prevented 80-85%, 2 doses of measles vaccination have only reached 95% efficiency.

12. What is the ability to prevent the measles vaccination at 80-85%?

In principle, when producing measles vaccines, manufacturers try to ensure the preventive effectiveness of measles vaccine to 90%. However, some factors will affect the results of vaccination, such as your child's health and a number of reasons other than the health sector's wishes.

The amount of 80-85% is the number of children who are definitely protected after the first vaccination. This is the result of the vaccination program evaluation, we cannot be sure which child has been effective and who has not. Therefore, after many years of deliberation, the health sector decided to have 2 doses of measles vaccination so that those who are not protected by the first nose will be protected by the nose 2. The World Health Organization also guides those Being vaccinated with 2 shots will have a lifelong immunity, and enough antibodies given to the baby, to women.

13. How effective is measles vaccination?

After the injection, the vaccine will stimulate the body's immune response to help the body not get measles virus infection, including immunological, cellular immunity and interferon.

14. What measles vaccines are available?

Currently, there are dozens of measles vaccines in the world in the form of single or combination vaccines (measles - rubella or measles - mumps - rubella). Most vaccines are presented as freeze-dried vaccines with solvents.

15. What is the measles vaccination schedule?

For measles vaccination in the Expanded Immunization Program, the vaccination schedule approved by the Ministry of Health is applied as follows:

- In regular vaccination: The first nose is 9 months old and the second is 18 months old.

- In campaign vaccination: Implement vaccination for all subjects within the scope of the campaign.

- The minimum distance between 2 doses of measles vaccine is 1 month.

For vaccination services: Comply with the manufacturer's instructions. Measles vaccine is available for all ages.

Getting enough measles vaccine, right age is the best way to prevent measles.(Photo: Phan Duong)

16. Is immunity after measles vaccination lifelong?

The World Health Organization has reported that in cases of immune response to measles after vaccination or after infection, this immunity is lifelong.

17. Why should two doses of measles vaccine be given?

Studies around the world show that if vaccinated against measles at 9 months of age, only about 85% of vaccinated children have an immune response. The remaining 15% of children do not have an immune response due to factors inherited from maternal immunity, health status, quality of vaccine preservation . The vaccination against measles after 12 months is a second chance to create immunity for those who do not have an immune response after the first injection or have not been vaccinated, thereby increasing the proportion of children with community immunity to above 95%.

18. Can I get 2 shots before the appointment?

The 2 doses of measles vaccine can be vaccinated at least one month from the first nose, so parents can take their children to inject early before the appointment.

19. How long does the measles vaccine work to prevent?

Usually, it takes 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination for the body to create protective antibodies. While the body has no immunity to protection, there is a risk of exposure and infection.

20. Should vaccination be given to people who have measles?

Cases that have been tested for anti-measles IgM serology and have positive test results do not require measles vaccination. Past suspected cases of measles but not diagnosed with measles still need an injection.

21. Can lactating women inject measles vaccine?

Have. Antibodies are created to protect mothers and excreted in milk to protect children from measles when they are unable to create immunity.

22. Can measles vaccinations be given while pregnant?

The vaccine is not given during pregnancy.

23. Can measles be vaccinated before 9 months of age?

As recommended by the World Health Organization, the age of vaccination for measles vaccines for children is from 9 months of age. This is to ensure the effectiveness and safety of children. Measles vaccine is only given to children under 9 months of age when directed by the EPI program in case of necessity. All measles vaccinations before 9 months of age should be vaccinated at 9 months of age. The injection in 9 months of age is not counted as 1 vaccine.

24. Children who have had 2 doses of measles immunization, are the risk of measles still present? Should children be tested for blood to see if they have immunity?

According to the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, children need to receive two doses of measles vaccine. When children are vaccinated with measles two times on schedule, the ability to protect measles prevention can reach 90-95% so there is no need to have a blood test to avoid possible risks.

25. How to prevent measles for children under 9 months?

Children should not go to crowded places when not needed. Do not expose children to sick children in general, especially not to expose children to measles or suspected measles patients. Do not let children go to a place where there is epidemic, where there is a high risk of infection.

The caregiver should also not be in contact with a child with measles or measles. Wash your hands often with soap before holding and caring for children. Ensure good hygiene and nutrition care for children. When the child is 9 months old, the measles vaccine should be given on time.

This year measles outbreaks and many strange cases.The majority of children under 1 year of age are infected.(Photo: Hoang Phuong)

26. What side effects can I experience when getting measles vaccine?

Measles vaccine is considered safe. The reactions after injection are usually mild, may manifest as other vaccines: fever (5-15%), rash (5%), swelling, heat, redness at the injection site . Most side effects will be finished in about 1-2 days without any treatment. Serious reactions after measles vaccination are very rare. However, to ensure immunization safety, health workers need to monitor the child within 30 minutes after injection at the injection site.

27. Is vaccination given when I have a fever, an acute infection?

In cases of fever, an acute infection is in progress, it is necessary to suspend the injection, wait until the vaccine can be given.

28. Should the third shot be given to prevent measles?

Two doses of measles vaccine, which is immune and no need to be vaccinated, have been vaccinated.

29. Does an adult get measles?

Adults who do not have measles immunity, who are not vaccinated or are not sure if they have measles or have not had enough measles shots, are still at high risk of getting the disease. Especially when adults take care of children with measles. So adults also need to be vaccinated against measles.

30. Is the vaccine effective in preventing exposure to measles virus?

Measles virus takes time to penetrate body tissues that cause disease. Therefore, vaccines can prevent disease if given within 72 hours of exposure. Vaccination within 6 days of exposure can prevent serious complications of the disease.